Product Description

It's 1867. Twelve-year-old Emma Henderson is mortified when Mother takes to wearing a Reform Dress-hideous bloomers! Worse, Mother has accepted a newspaper job in wild, far-off Colorado Territory. But even Emma can't imagine just how badly things will go in Twin Pines. From the moment she and Mother step off the stagecoach, it's clear that someone doesn't want them there.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #772565 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 161 pages

Review
"Exciting storyline, historical accuracy, beautiful illustrations." -- Sheperd Express, Milwaukee, April 25, 2002

From the Author
This was a fun story to write! I loved sharing the story of the women's dress reform movement, even though Mother's "Bloomer Dress" was a source of great embarrassment to Emma. I also loved creating strong female characters who helped shape the new west. I invite readers to explore the mystery elements--spooky whistling in the night, and an unknown troublemaker--along with Emma. Can you solve the mystery?

About the Author
Kathleen Ernst's first History Mystery, "Trouble at Fort La Pointe," was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Children's Mystery in 2001. She has also been recognized with the Arthur Tofte Award for Best Juvenile Novel by a Wisconsin Writer for one of her Civil War novels, "Retreat from Gettysburg."

Customer Reviews

Whistler In The Dark Is A Great Historical Mystery Book!
Whistler in the Dark is a great historical mystery book about a twelve-year-old girl, Emma Henderson, who is sad because her father was killed in the Civil War, and her mother has no time to spend with her. When her mother decides to wear a Reform Dress and move to Colorado to start a newspaper, Emma is even more upset. But her troubles become even worse when they arrive in Twin Pines. The gold rush town has no houses, no schools, and no other girls Emma�s age. Someone also doesn�t want the newspaper to succeed and sends them a threatening note, dumps their ink, and does awful things to try and scare them off. Emma is also scared because a ghost-like figure has followed them from Chicago and, each night, goes by her window at the boarding house and whistles a tune that her dead father used to whistle all the time. At the end of the story, Emma figures out who is trying to scare them away from Twin Pines, and who is the secret whistler. Emma also learns to admire her mother for going West where she could be more than just a mother.

I read this book for my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Maull (who rocks!) The book was a little bit scary at one point, but it was still really a great book. I loved learning about how women couldn't wear pants or do a lot of jobs other than be a mom or wife! My grandmother read the book and loved it, too. So I recommend this book to all girls of all ages!

One of the Best Mysteries I've Ever Read
I like this book because of the way Emma Henderson feels about how her mother dresses, and because of all the mystery! I recommend this book to whoever loves mysteries and\or has read any other American Girl History Mysteries.

Great historical mystery
My Daughter has every American Girl book and Mystery. They are fantastic for elementary school age girls. Lots of history in each one.